Overview

Hemophilia A is a bleeding disorder in which the blood does not clot normally. People with this condition have prolonged bleeding or oozing after an injury, surgery, or tooth extraction. In severe cases, heavy bleeding occurs after minor trauma or even when there is no trauma (spontaneous bleeding). Serious complications can result from bleeding into the joints, muscles, brain, or other internal organs. In milder forms there is no spontaneous bleeding, and the condition may not become apparent until after a surgery or serious injury. Hemophilia A is inherited in an X-linked recessive manner and is caused by changes (mutations) in the F8 gene.[1] The main treatment is called replacement therapy, during which clotting factor VIII is dripped or injected into a vein.[2]

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) provides leadership for a national program in diseases of the heart, blood vessels, lung, and blood; blood resources; and sleep disorders. Since October 1997, the NHLBI has also had administrative responsibility for the NIH Woman's Health Initiative. Click on the link to view information on this topic.

The National Human Genome Research Institute's (NHGRI) mission encompasses a broad range of studies aimed at understanding the structure and function of the human genome and its role in health and disease. Click on the link to view the information page on this topic.

The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) is a federation of more than 130 nonprofit voluntary health organizations serving people with rare disorders. Click on the link to view information on this topic.

In Depth Information

Medscape Reference provides information on this topic. You may need to register to view the medical textbook, but registration is free.

Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) is a catalog of human genes and genetic disorders. Each entry has a summary of related medical articles. It is meant for health care professionals and researchers. OMIM is maintained by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.

PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Hemophilia A. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.